Brake drum



" Patented Sept. 7, @1937 t Mathew B.

#BRAKE DRUM p l MorganQDeti-oit, Mich., assigor to The' 'limiten-Detroit Axle Company,Y Detroit, MWh-a corporation of Ohio f implication February 15, 134, serial No. 711,4:15 f `y["jzsfoiaims.,101.1887521 l The present" invention vrelates Vtobrakel drums, and more particularly it relates to brake `drums l for .use in` automotive vehicles, `rail carsand the like.

typesofvbrake drums, namely, pressed steel brake drums `of one piece andfcaststeel brake drums. The former has its handling comparatively light; loads, .and the. latter has its greatest usagein applicationshandling heavy loads.

.Thereare "objections to feachwoft these `'twow typesdrurns made from` onesheet of steel,A it is lvery diillcult to obtain suilicient wall thickness around the `braking surface to prevent;` distortion funder` `In the caseyof the pressedsteel brake loadwwith `a, consequent ,eccentricity Such eccentricity prevents lqpercent contact with the lining member4 of,` the fbrakeflwhich is necessary,`

Il o, for eillcient braking operation.,; Af flange is ordiJ narily turned outwardly atthe inner end of the outer periphery of sucha drum .inordertoat- `tempt to `1 of round4 This fiangeyonly helps, l to a limited` extent incases where the width of giveit the properv resistance, to going out and then only" the brakingsurfaceisvery narro z A l Howevergthe greatest` disadvantage `of` f` pressedfsteel type `offdrumj is thatthere is very little Vsurface for dissipation of, fthe heat'` generatedfby thebraking action. Due to the lack of heat" dissipating 4or cooling surface, the metal becomesfextremely hot'and increases the tendency towardfjdistortion: Another disadvantage `is the l initial die cost.

Due to the depth of suchdrums it islnecessary toform them inlseveral drawing operations.",Ifhe.number-fof draws `required `de- `pends on the depth.H Itis obvious that, should` a slightly differentxdrum be `required than is al-'l ready in manufacture, a new set of dieswould be l n l other well-known type is a pressed steel drum withlanouterreenforcing band placed around the o required.

l l The advantagesfof 4the--fpressed steel l which account for its present use,'are small weight andlow unit, production cost. i l f f a Iview `toovercoming` theodisadvantages:of the pressedsteei drum. `lnoorder to dothis, dueto `the comparative,weaknessuofcast,steel as com` pared to pressed steel, it `is,necessaryto maken the wall `of the `bral-ringsurface quite heavy. `In l addition ,tothis heavy wall,` peripheral orlateral larger amount of metal toovercome theQfaults of tithe pressed steel brake drum. The Weight of thistrnetal is very objecticnable`because it ma- At, present; there. are twouniversally used greatest usage in applications Cast teel drums are ordinarily ldesignedwith,`

`terially 4increases the uri-sprung weight of the axle assembly withA which-it is associated. In some cases the cooling ,linsorribs are machined in order to cut down theirythickness"(it `is not possible to cast thin flnsofM substantial height), and thus cut downthe'weightof the drum. This procedure is also objectionable in that said machining isqquite costly.` l A further objection to cast` steel drums is their internal machining cost, forzdue to the inherent roughness ofzcastings,` it is necessary to do` considerable machining before a finished drum having a` suiilciently` `smooth to machine the surfaces which register with like surfaces of the member to `which the` drum is to be attached. 'I'his last mentioned machining operationiislnot necessary inapressed steel drum* `as the bore can be punched to size and the attaching surfaces can be madesuiliciently'at.

The initialxpattern cost of a cast steel drum is" small as compared to the initial die cost of pressed steel drums. However, Aiziatternsare inclined to wear out more quickly 4than are dies so that it-is often necessary toreplacethem. Also, for high quantity production it is `advisable to have. a numberofpatternsi" Itis obvious, as in the case 'of pressed steel drums that,should a slightly different drum be required than is alreadyin manufacture, a new set of `patterns would be required.` The per piece productioncost, as Awellfas the machining, is quite high and it is only the `rigidity and cooling `features that drumits present popularity. t l

There are a numberofmodications of the above two described types` of brake drumsthe foremost being a casting with aupressed steelzinsert` at the braking surface. This type isobjectionable because of its great weight and cost and its poor heat dissipating properties. `An-` outerperiphery of thebraking surface` with a.

snug fit, to prevent distortion.` '.i'histype is ob` jectionable because g the heat'` generated` on the braking surface must be transmitted through `the pressed steel drum andthe reenforcing band before it cui be dissipated, and dissipation of the l, heat after it reaches the surface of the band,` is slow because such bands are not ribbed.`

In view 4of the abovediscussion of the various brake drums heretofore proposed it is" the prin'-l cipal object of this "invention to provide a brake* drum of extreme rigidity; low weight witha maxi- `mum of cooling area, and which may be produced at low cost.

l braking'surface is'obtained. l It is also necessary lendv to this type of In the case of a manufacturer using a great many different sizes of brake drums, there often fbrake drums of varying widths.

It is a further important object of the present invention to devise a brake drum madevup of a plurality of parts that will rapidly dissipate heat generated therein.

It is a further object of my invention to devise a cylindrical brake drum having a plurality of parts, at least one of which is provided with a heat generating surface and with a heat dissipating surface exposed to the atmosphere with said surfaces integrally joined.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a brake drum made up of a number of parts, some of which are identical, said identical parts being adapted, when in their' rough or seminished form, for use in producing brake drums of various diameters.

The foregoing and other specific objects will clearly appear from a study of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the claims and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a plan view looking into the open side of a preferred form of the brake drum of the present invention,

Figure 2 is an elevational view of theparts of the brake drum shown in Figure 1, with the upper half thereof broken away as indicated by line II--II of Figure l, and illustrates the parts as they appear prior to assembly and welding.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on line III- III of Figure 1, and illustrates the assembled and machined drum, the configuration of the inner surface thereof being indicated by the dot and dash line.

Figure 4 is an elevational view, with the upper half thereof in section, of a modified form of brake drum also forming part of my invention.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the brake drum.

With continued reference to the drawing wherein like numerals designate like parts, the invention consists principally in a facing or closure I, which is preferably, though not necessarily made of sheet metal, a multiplicity of intermediate rings 2 and 2a and a flanged end ring 3, the latter being preferably formed of sheet metal.

It will be understood that the shape of the inner portionof facing member I will depend upon the application to which it is to be adapted. In the form shown it is substantially cup-shaped with a flat central portion 4 which is suitably centrally apertured as at 5 to t the pilot diameter of the member to which it is to be adapted. Closure I is provided with an upwardly inclined portion 6 which extends therefrom into an outer rim 1, which is cylindrical in shape and has at its outer end an upwardly extending flange vil which is disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of closure I. Central portion 4 of closure I is provided with a suitable number of approximately sized bolt holes 9 by means of which the closure may be bolted to the member to which it is to be adapted. y

Each intermediate ring member 2, and also ring member 2a, is composed essentially of a cylindrical portion having a stepped construction which substantially divides it into two cylindrical portions of different diameters, such as a smaller diameter cylindrical portion I0 and a larger diameter cylindrical portion I I. The outer diameter of portion I I of each ring member 2 is substantially equal to that of the outer surface of portion 'I of facing member I, and has adjacent thereto an upwardly extending flange I2, which is preferably identical with flange 8 of member I. The outside diameters of portions I0 of ring members 2 and 2a are slightly larger than the inside diameters of outer flangey I of member I and portions II of ring members 2 and 2a. End ring 3 consists of a cylindrical portion I4 of the same size diametrically as portion I0 of rings 2 and 2a, and has an upwardly turned ange I5 at right angles thereto, which is identical with upwardly turned flanges 8 and I2 of members I, 2 and 2a.

Intermediate ring members 2- and 2a are so dimensioned that the outside of portion I0 of any one of said members registers snugly with the inside of portion I I of any other. As seen in Figure 3, portion IIJ of ring 2a is snugly received in portion I of member I, and ring members 2 are disposed in nested relationship with each other and ring member 2a., with their portions III disposed within portions I I thereof. Portions I0 and II of ring members 2 and 2a are preferably so configured as to lie in substantially full surface engagement when they are disposed in assembled relationship for the purpose of providing a rigid structure and for facilitating heat transfer from one ring member to another.

Manufacture of the various parts is quite simple. Member vI is made of pressed steel and due to the fact that there is comparatively little axial depth it presents no deep drawing manufacturing difficulties. Members 2 and 2a may be made of strips, cut to desired lengths, depending upon the diameter required, rolled in a cylindrical shape and butt-weldedv at their ends. If desired, however, they may be stamped in ring shape from sheet metal stock. Member 3 is made similarly to member 2. All of said members, i, 2 and 3 are then stretched onto a mandrel or other suitable apparatus into the position shown in Figure 2 and at this stage the inner surface appears as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Figure 3. At this juncture the various parts are preferably sweated or copper-welded as indicated at I1, I8 and I9. This form of welding is preferable, for the copper flows between the contacting surfaces and results in a surface bond as compared to the restricted area bond that is produced by electric or arc-welding. It is to be understood however, that the invention is not limited to the means herein disclosed for securing the parts together, for any form of'welding or other suitable means would be satisfactory.

With the drum thus formed the only machining operation necessary for its completion is then performed. This consists of machining the metal away that is indicated in Figure 3 as being disposed between the dot and dash line and the inside `surface of the drum, and forms a ledge 20 on ring member 2a. This operation trues up the inside diameter of the brake drum and gives it a smooth braking lsurface against which the braking material is to be pressed. The amount of material to be removed by ma' Y h butyet said `macliinirig compares favoiablyfwith t thatrequired for a presse'djsteel di"um`` In mostl` caseswthe amount of metalfjremoved `bythe ma;-

` s `with reference tO.`Eignre14,-abrake `drum is t rshowniv'vhich is constructed in the fsamemanner i chining is comparativelysmall aslcoln'paredwto that required to beremoved in 'acast drum,

chining operation lwill not eigceed if of an inchl as that just described, butfwhich hassix ring members, and it `accordingly provides `a wider braking surfacethan the druinshownin Figures 1, 2, and 3; whiclil is `equipped l with`- only `four rings. `This illustrates the "easewith", whicha wider or Lnarrower `brake drum` may be" obtained by merelygbuildingup the elements; of the drum as described; Itwillalsobenoted that the. in-

cr'ementsiby w'hiclfi the drum maybe narrowed or widened win depend up'on theftvidthkof the members Zand some orallof them maybe made narrow if desired so as to provide smaller increments In case it `is necessary vto have the braking surfaee fat"` a greaterfor "lesser distance fronrthe brake drum "supporting"v member, it iss `necessary onlytofcliahg thejshapef` of the fac- ""Therh one die will berequired for eachshape of t g facingI `thatis to be usedj` It will be also un.

ingrrnember. h `As before noted,` `the`c`ost of such` facing memberis comparatively small` due to the` factthat 4a deepfdrawing operation is not necesy sary' for itsproduction. LIn summing up the r costsy fthe" dies `required `for 'the present "inven tion for eachdiameter `size of drums are,one die for` forming the shapeofl members 2 and 2a,

` and" onesimple die'for forming the shapeof member 3; "HIt willbe understood thattthese two diesjare all that is requiredl'for these members noinatter what width of drumlis required.

derstood that any Width `oflrumcan be obtained I members 2 and 2a.`

for any one `shape of facing` I, by properly selectingjand assembling the correct number ovfring` The fabove described dies `are very small `in number and low infcost Aascompared to the dies required under similar circumstancesl for4 ar pressed steel drum of onepiece.` Inv the latter `required for each width of drum fand for "each` variation `in facing` portions.`

It must also be remembered that thel thicker? the metal of` a *pressed steel piece,"the more `difficult isits manufacture. r If, forexampleaitiis desired to] replace acne-piece pressed'steel drum `havinga wall thicknessof 1%; `of an 'inch `with a.. drumembodyingmyinvention it wouldonly be" necessary `to handle,r ,thick sheets. Insucha., casethe `resulting drum would be considerably stronger than a singlepiece drum because of"` the partsfthereof provide.- i :4 Flanges 8, I2 and `I5 Vservea dual purpose;

multiplicity of lradially directed flanges that-the t f rst,` they lend extreme rigidity vto theA ydrum and render ithighly resistanttof any tendency structedso as to"havrewahdouble thickness, as it is atthis point that the first 4tendency toward" I` i drum eccentricity will o`ccur.`l

structure byups'tandingahges 8; I2 land) I5,

the drum is also `mgtreine1y` strong" in the vicinity of the braking surface, due` to the fact that" there islessentiallya `double thickness of metal' ffficient thickness sothat itwill not be consider-` ably `weakened should it be neccssaryat any time during the life of the drum, to machine out the n inside diameterr thereof to obtain a smooth surface becauseof groovesrwornftherein:during sservice. l Such machining inservicemay-accorde, l igly yliedone on drums`,vincorporating this in-` vention with less weakening effect `than could be` done on other `pressed steel ldrums, which is in part due Jtothe increased thickness and in part `duel to ftheadditional strengthimparted to theyy `drurnby the multiplicity of"1ianges. v

From the foregoing it Awill be, seen that the drum presented by `this"invention'has` all the advantages of both thesingle piece pressedsteel. drum. andthe cast steelu'drum, butat the. Asame'` time has none of their' disadvantagesfThe summed up advantages lare `irlzratxixnum-` rigidity and strength and wearing qualities; high .heat

transmitting efiiciency and maximum cooling 3 area,`;'and'minimum cost, with special emphasis t on itsdesirability to a manufacturer `vi/homakes drums of various sizes. v l I `With` reference to the Lheatfdissipating operafers involved, but itis never'thelessjbelieved to fairly accuratelydepict the" paths taken `byfthe Cil tion 'of my inventiomI have illustrated in h Figure 5 an enlarged sectional view of two ring meml bers of the drumand the conduction of heat` therefrom'has been indicatedby arrows. Inthis `ligure no attempt has beenmade to, indicate relative temperatures nor has `'any attempt been made to` accurately indicateA the caloric trans-` heat in escapingfrom the sphere of heat gener-` ation, which in the present instance;y is the braking surface of thedrum. t

With continuedreferenceto this 'gurefhean t is substantially 'uniformly generated at the braking surface ofthe drum .under braking conditions, .l

and is l conduted through wenas la and cyiindn-v. cal portions IU of ring member 2Mas indicated.

` It is observed that while a part of the heat is conducted ,through portions I0 thence through portions I I and flanges `.I2 of` rings2 andvto the atmosphere from the outer surface of portions f II,l a greater part of the heat generated is conr ducted` from portion Ill `ofthe ring in which it. v is `generatedI to portion II and thence `to ange 4 I2 thereof as this course doesnotainvolvethe transfer of` heat' from "one ring to another as y the first `course described.` It is a well known `fact that for bodiesofequal thickness, heat will..A v be more rapidly conducted throughn that one` I i whichis integrally formed, land even though a,

body that `is made of several `pieces may have v the laminations'" thereof bonded Ogether, heat transfertthrough .thelbody `is nevertheless inferior r to; that of an ,integral` `body. ;-Tliis has been objectionable in the two piece drums above` mentioned that are in use today... t `In suchdrums l the heat generated must be conductedthrough l the!` inner vor braking surfacedmember, then transmitted or conveyed from 4theinner member to vthe `outer drum or reenforcing member as `the casepmay be; and thence conductedthrough the outer member 5to the atmosphere.

In my novel drum.v constructionfthe "heat` i 4 t generated in ringmembersz and 2a,.withthe Inaddition to the rigidity imparted; to `the@` integral"portions` I`I `4and, flanges I2 as indicated, A part of the heat is'generated`inwelds I9`but y as copperois "oneofothe best heat `l conductors I I 4 t. 0 result that the greaterpart thereof, maybe read- [ily conducted to `the atmosphere through. their known, such heat is'rapidly conducted through the welds and through rings 2 to the atmosphere as indicated. Likewise welds I1 do not materially impede the dissipation of heat from the junctions 5 of members 2'to the atmosphere.

Although I have illustrated each ring 2, and also ring 2a, as being provided with an integrally formed heat convecting and radiating flange i2, it is to be understood that if it is desired, or the conditions of the application require it, flanges l2 may be omitted from ring members 2 and 2a, and the appended claims are intended to embrace my device when it is employed in this manner. When my novel drum is utilized in the l5 manner just described, the heat will be dissipated in a manner similar to that illustrated in Figure 5, but the heat is naturally dissipated k in this instance from the outer surfaces of portions `i| of ringA members 2 and 2a.

Frictional members of disc-like configuration,v

such as clutch plates may also be constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Although I have illustrated the braking surface of the drum as having the same diameter throughout its width, it is to be understood that if desired it may be stepped so as to provide two or more diameters to handle brake shoe assemblies of' different sizes, by properly dimen- 0 sioning rings 2, 2a and 3, without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention.

I have found by actual test that a brake drum having thirty per cent more cooling surface than another drum of substantially equal proportions can dissipate fifty per cent'more heat energy for the same temperature increase.

Although I have disclosed a particular method of producing the brake drums of my invention, it is to be understood that any other suitable 40 methods, for instance, those now employed for manufacturing conventional pressed steel drums, may be employed to produce my drums and the parts thereof Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The bond formed between rings 2, 2a and 3 and cover I, by the welding operation has been found to be sufficient to transmit the braking torque from rings 2, 2a and 3 tothe cover I, but if desired a positive mechanical connection may be provided between the parts, of any known nature, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

The invention may be embodied in other speciilc forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics' thereof. The present embodiments-are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of -the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by 65 United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a brake drum construction, a plurality of ring-like members secured together in axially aligned relationship, portions of at least two of said members providing an unbroken inner cylindrical braking surface,- said two members having substantially equal wear coeflicients.

2. The brake drum construction described in claim 1, wherein said members are of substantially equal diameter. y 75 3. The brake drum construction described in claim 1, wherein said members are provided with integral vheat dissipating portions.

4. The brake construction described in claim 1, wherein said members 'are provided with reenforcing,` heat dissipating flanges.

5. In a brake drum construction, a plurality of sleeve members disposed in axial alignment and secured together in overlapping telescoping relationship, at least two of saidsleeve members having inner cylindrical braking surfaces.

' 6. The construction defined in claim 5, Wherein said braking surfaces are of equal diameter.

7. The construction defined in claim 5, wherein said sleeve members are provided with integrally formed heat dissipating flanges.

8. 'Ihe construction defined in claim 5, wherein vat least one of said braking surfaces is disposed in the region of overlap of two of said members.

9. A cylindrical frictional drum, comprising at least two members secured together in axial aligned relationship, each of said members having a frictional heat generating surface portion and a heat convecting and radiating surface portion integrally formed with said heat generating surface portion, the heat convecting and radiating surface portion of one of said members being disposed adjacent the heat generating surface portionof the other of said members.

10. In a brake drum, a supporting member; at least one drum element secured to said support, said drum element having an inner cylindrical braking surface and a heat dissipating portion; and a second drum element secured to said rst named drum element and having an inner cylindrical braking surface and a heat dissipating portion, the heat dissipating portion of one of said drum elements being located adjacent the inner cylindrical braking surface of the other drum element.

11. In a brake drum, a supporting member; at least one drum element secured to said support; said drum element having an inner cylindrical braking surface and a heat dissipating portion; and a second drum element secured to said first named drum element and having an inner cylindrical braking surface of a diameter equal to that of the cylindrical surface of said rst named drum element, the inner cylindrical braking surfaces of said drum elements being disposed in closely adjacent side-by-side relationship and providing an unbroken surface adapted to frictionally cooperate with a brake shoe.

12. A cylindrical brake drum or the like, comprising two members rigidly connected together for' synchronous rotation, each of said members having a portion providing a heat generating surface, one of said members having a heat convecting and radiating portion integrally formed with its heat generating portion and disposed' adjacent the heat generating surface of said other member.

13. The device described in claim 12, wherein the heat generating and heat convecting and radiating portions of said one member are disposed substantially normal to each other.

14. A brake drum comprising a plurality of rings of comparatively narrow axial width rigidly 'secured together in axially abutting relationship and providing a smooth unbroken internal surface adapted to cooperate with at least one brake shoe.

15. The brake drum described in claim 14, wherein said rings are also provided with por tions which are disposed in telescoping relationship.

` 16. A brake drum comprising a plurality of` ring members disposed in axial alignment, each of said ring members having a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion, said ring members being rigidly connected with thev small diameter portion of each ring member nested in ltelescoping relationship to the large diameter portion of its neighboring ring member.

17. The brake drum described in claim 16, wherein the inner surfaces of said ring members define a cylindrical braking surface of constant diameter. l

18. The brake `drum described in claim 16, wherein the large diameter portions of at least one of said ring members terminates in a heat dissipating flange disposed substantially normal to the axis of said drum.

19. A brake drum comprising a drum support and plurality of drum-forming ring-like members disposed in axial alignment and secured to each other and td said drum in telescoping axially abutting relationship and providing a cylindrical drum having an inner braking surface, said ringlike members being of identical conguration,

whereby a drum of any desired width may be built up therewith by using the requisite number of members.

20. 'I'he brake drum described in claim 19, together with a terminal ring element secured to the member remote from said drum support and providing a braking surface and an outwardly extending iiange. y

21. A brake drum comprising a. plurality of rings of comparatively narrow axial width rigidly secured together in axially abutting relationship, said rings also having portions which are disposed in telescoping relationship.

22. A brake drum comprising a plurality of ring members disposed in axial alignment, each of said ring members having a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion, said ring members being rigidly connected with the small diameter portion of each ring member nested in telescoping relationship to the large diameter portion of its neighboring ring member, and a. terminal ring member'having a small diameter portion telescoped withinthe large diameter portion of the innermost of said ring members.

23. 'I'he brake drum described in claim 22, wherein said ring members are provided with heat dissipating anges disposed substantially normal to the axis of said drum, and the ange of said terminal ring member is secured to the liange of one endmost ring member.

l Mn'rrmw B. MORGAN. 

